Chief Digital Officer

SystemsAccountants are working with a Unit4 customer in need of a Chief Digital officer to lead their next phase of work. The Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer are the organisation’s principal authority for all aspects of digital, data and technology. The postholder provides independent, system-level leadership and acts with substantial delegated autonomy to shape and deliver high-performing services and organisational capability. The Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer will:

Set and lead a bold vision for digital, data and technology, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and leading collaboration at pace and scale to deliver successful outcomes within a complex, evolving organisational landscape. Provide influential and visible leadership across a wider multi-agency system, shaping cross-boundary strategies and enabling integrated, user-focused services across multiple organisations. Champion innovation, emerging technologies and data-driven decision-making to transform services, improve outcomes and strengthen resilience. Represent the organisation at regional and national levels, influencing policy and investment and positioning it as a leader in ethical, inclusive and future-focused digital and data practice.

Role Responsibility Corporate & Strategic Leadership

Act as the organisation’s most senior adviser on digital, data and technology, providing authoritative, independent strategic advice to the Chief Executive, senior leadership team and elected or appointed members. Exercise significant delegated authority in determining technology investment priorities, enterprise architecture, data governance frameworks and organisational risk posture. Shape and continually evolve the long-term digital, data and technology strategy, ensuring it enables large-scale transformation, efficiency, resilience and service redesign. Lead the organisation-wide digital investment portfolio, ensuring coherence, ROI and alignment with corporate objectives.

System-Level Leadership & Cross-Boundary Impact

Provide strong system leadership across a multi-agency ecosystem, influencing and enabling shared strategies, interoperable platforms and integrated delivery models across partners. Lead and/or act as Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for major multi-organisation digital and data programmes with significant financial, operational and user impact. Represent the organisation at regional and national digital, data and cyber leadership forums, shaping policy, standards and funding opportunities.

Technology, Innovation & Transformation

Champion the intelligent, safe and ethical adoption of emerging technologies (including AI and automation), ensuring they drive measurable improvements in outcomes, productivity and service quality. Ensure a resilient, modern, scalable and secure digital infrastructure that enables effective service delivery at organisational and system level. Drive a design-led, innovation-focused culture using agile methods to accelerate transformation and improve user experience.

Data Strategy, Governance & Capability

Define and lead an enterprise-wide data strategy, establishing consistent standards, ownership, quality and lifecycle management. Oversee development of a modern data platform enabling secure, interoperable data sharing and advanced analytics across multiple organisations. Embed strong data ethics, governance and compliance frameworks ensuring lawful, transparent and trustworthy use of data. Build organisation-wide data literacy and capability to empower staff at all levels.

Cyber Security & Risk Management

Provide strategic leadership on cyber security, ensuring robust arrangements to prevent, detect and respond to threats while supporting innovation and operational resilience. Ensure all digital and data practices meet legislative, regulatory and assurance requirements.

Operational Excellence & People Leadership

Lead, inspire and develop the Digital, Data and Technology function, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring professional standards. Ensure services are user-centric, resilient and deliver measurable value. Oversee third-party supplier partnerships, commissioning arrangements and contract performance. Ensure digital, data and technology considerations are embedded in business planning, financial strategies and service redesign.

External Leadership, Influence & Reputation

Act as the external face of the organisation’s digital ambition, developing strategic partnerships with industry leaders, academia, government bodies and national programmes. Promote the organisation as a leader in digital inclusion, ethical AI and innovation. Secure external investment and influence national programmes to benefit local communities and service users.

Dimensions

Responsible for oversight and management of revenue (Opex) and capital budgets exceeding £20m. Line management responsibility for teams of up to 300 staff across Digital, Data and Technology functions.

Significant senior-level experience as a CIO, CTO, CDIO or equivalent, with leadership of a complex, multi-functional Digital, Data and Technology portfolio. Demonstrable ability to influence and shape strategy across multiple autonomous organisations with differing priorities and governance structures. Exceptional leadership credibility at corporate and political or governance levels, with strong negotiation and relationship-building skills. Proven ability to lead and motivate a diverse, hybrid workforce and inspire a culture of innovation and high performance. Strong commercial acumen and ability to secure value from investment, partnerships and sourcing arrangements. Extensive understanding of emerging digital and data capabilities, including AI and automation. Broad knowledge of infrastructure, cyber security, enterprise architecture and market trends. Proven leadership of large-scale digital, data and technology services and major transformation programmes. Experience acting as SRO or equivalent for major programmes with multi-organisation reach. Track record of shaping and delivering strategy in a system or multi-agency environment. Strong experience of working with senior leaders, members, boards or external partners. High levels of personal credibility, integrity and resilience. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex issues with clarity. Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Duration: 9 month Day Rate Contract with competitive rate D.O.E